UK's economic recovery 'dependent' on immigrant workers

Tuesday 9th December 2008

The continued influx of migrant workers is essential to the UK's weathering of the current economic crisis, a new report claims.

According to the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), migrant workers will play a vital role in employment sectors such as the construction industry, helping to boost the economy.

And with an additional 40,000 workers required per year for huge construction projects such as those required ahead of the 2012 Olympics, the report calls for the government to introduce flexible immigration policies, helping to keep certain economic sectors like construction afloat.

"It is more important than ever that the government does not use the recession as an excuse to restrict the numbers of migrant workers coming to the UK," said Lisa Harker, co-director of the IPPR.

"Our research shows that, even in recession, migrant workers are essential in delivering the key construction projects that will help boost local economies.

"The government must also to help British workers reap the benefits of these projects, by ensuring they have access to training that is properly targeted at giving them the skills needed for future jobs."

She added: "Just as migrant workers helped to boost the UK economy on its way up, they are even more essential in a recession, helping to keep afloat industries like construction and hospitality which rely on a flexible workforce happy to do contractual work and able to travel for work."

The report also stressed that government measures are required to protect both migrant and domestic workers from exploitive employers who hire illegal workers.

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